Update on a story the Washington Post declared one of the most inspiring stories of 2017

If she wants to still identify as White, I see nothing wrong with it, as she was raised culturally White. She doesn’t have to change her identity to please others. I was raised culturally Black, even though I’m of mixed heritage. I don’t have to stop being Black just to please others.

Her mother was just trying to get away from terrible oppression & racism. It was the only way that she could do it & I don’t blame her

I love this woman as she has embraced all of her ancestors

I wish people would get comfortable with people who are not mostly black, being just that. It’s ok. She is mostly white. 8% black and IT IS OK. She has every right to say she is a white women with Black ancestry. The racial ignorance of the one drop rule has caused so much confusion.

I respect Dr. Gail for her honesty and courage. She had no idea about her ancestry and when she found out she embraced it, many people would have kept it hidden like her mother. Sad her mom couldn’t live her true life without hiding. Wonderful person & great story.

Would love to see this as a movie. Thank you for sharing!

I wasn't disappointed with your answer...you were raised as a white woman who learned of your African ancestry. You were not raised with the black experience. One can understand your answer reasonably. We all deal with our identity and any conclusion you come to should be in your own time and understanding. I say this as a woman that was born of a white birth mother and black birth father.

But her answer was right though...she is a white woman with African ancestry!!!..8% is a light dusting!!!

I have so much empathy for her mother. None of us can know how hard that choice must have been for her. My mixed race kids will never have to hide me in the world we live in now. It was unimaginable how black people had to live during that time and even now in America it's still incredibly hard. This is an important story.

She faced backlash? People are crazy! My grandfather is half East Indian and half black (Caribbean). My mother’s genetic make up is 27% East Indian and the rest of her DNA is African/black...she is not East Indian! For my mom to face backlash over that would be crazy! My mom looks black and is considered to be African/black by all who knows her. This women has 8% African DNA and people expect her to claim she’s black? That is unfair and absolutely crazy! She is white and its okay for her to claim that!

This is so, so close to my own family's story. Passing, especially in New Orleans and other areas of Louisiana and the Deep South, and culture vs. race are such complex issues. I couldn't be prouder to be a mixed, Creole person and I am constantly grateful for my ancestors. 💜💚💛🧿

People commenting seem to be forgetting/missing the social climate that existed in the US at the time Gail's mother moved away from home to "pass". The society constructed by white people said if you have "a drop" of black blood, you are black and of an inferior race and social caste. This happened with other groups of color too, but was more rigorously enforced against people with black heritage. The race you were perceived to be could have life and death repercussions. Where you lived, job and wealth opportunities, social acceptance by the larger society, and access to services were all affected by your outward phenotype. The less caucasian it was, the lower your standing in the US. Parts of that behavior continue to the present. My maternal and paternal family have ancestors as close as my grandparents generation that could "pass" but remained in the black community (grandmother) and others that left on both sides. I grew up in a neighborhood where, I had multiple elder neighbors (mostly female) that could have chosen to live as caucasian. People made life choices to gain acceptance in a racist United States. Some black families for generations even make sure no one procreates or marries a black person of too dark a hue to maintain a phenotype more closely associated with whiteness in their family line. All of this has caused hundreds of years of lies, secrets, separation, and sorrow in the black community and beyond

Her mother was not the first person who passed. Tons of people did it,that happened all the time. I know here in Louisiana those that left and passed sneaked back and helped their darker relatives to do better in life. Hell back in those being black was hard and tough, shit it still is.

As a young woman I had a friend from Louisiana. Now she neve told me she was white, I assumed she was. Yes her mom had olive skin and tight dark curly hair she kept cut short but it simply had not occurred to me they were anything but white. One evening when her dad was sitting around and he had been drinking a bit he asked me if I knew what Creoles were. I said to my knowledge that was a type of Louisiana cooking as far as I knew. She cut off the conversation and said "Creoles are simply people, no big deal." Well her dad said no more and I could tell they were uncomfortable so I changed the subject. From that point on it seemed she started pulling away from me and was not so friendly. I had no idea why. Years later when I learned about the Creole culture I realized maybe I had shown some sort of racial bias or she saw it as that? I don't know. I wish she had been honest with me. Honestly, though, I never knew she was anything but white at the time. It was only years later I got what her dad was trying to tell me that they were not white. So you see, they were not hiding or passing intentionally. Some of us were simply too naïve to know differently

I read your book and found it to be so profound and enlightening. I am on the opposite side of the spectrum where as I am of mixed race, mother black and father Italian. I am light skinned looking more Latin. I have spent many years of my life trying to understand where I fit in, too light to be black and too black to be white. Thank you for writing this book.

This is so similar to my own story. I just recently found out that I have African Ancestry that was hidden. It has opened up an entire new story of my ancestors.

So Gail says she has 8% African heritage - not alot. Her mother has high % white clearly. She said even her grandmother was "passible ". Acknowledge it all, embrace it all - we can say that in this time in history

I identify as an African American/ black woman (mixed race heritage) even though my skin is white and freckled. My hair is a combination of 3C, 4A and 4B. In school (early 70's - late 80's) my African American Classmates would beat me up sometimes once a month or more, depending on the neighborhood and they would call me names like "light bright almost white,," " half breed" and "white girl." Both my parents are very light skinned african americans. My racial mix is 1/4 Irish and 3/4 African American. I don't know of any of my white relatives and my seven siblings are different shades of dark brown to what used to be called "high yellow." Being accepted in the black community has always been difficult for me and my dark brown friends who have struggled for acceptance because they have been told "you talk like a white girl." Colorism is still alive and well in America. I can not imagine the effect colorism might have had on Dr. Gail's mother back then. She might not have always been accepted into the black community. Once we were bussed to white schools I had my first school year without being beat up. The same for my dark skinned friends, who had been teased and previously called "oreo cookie." I can imagine the pull Dr. Gail's mother felt to join the white community. I made a different choice, but I don't think any of us are allowed to judge or decide what choice Dr. Gail or her mother should have made unless we can walk a mile in their shoes.

I recently finished the audiobook. I can't imagine having to live a lie like that.

I love her spirit and her honesty